Portable drill rig



May 14, 1957 L. A. BRAUN PORTABLE yDRILL. RIG

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 50. 1953 INVENTOR. EON/4R0 BRA u/v BY f .C25 @Ehi kwh SS Q9 Qu A rv-ORNE YJ May 14, 1957 A. BRAUN PORTABLE DRILL RIG 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Maroh 50, 1953 mn N NB R

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May 14, 1957 L. A. BRAUN 2,792,198

` PORTABLE 951m. RIG

Filed March 30, 1953 E v4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l j INVENTOR.

ATToR/vfsmi` May 14, 1957 Filed March 50, 1953 L. A. BRAUN PORTABLE DRILL RIG 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENToR. LEON/:R0 A. RAu/v BWM-d,

ATTORNEYJ l United Safes ,Paf-ef@ PORTABLE DRILL RIG Leonard A. Braun, St. Paul, Minn., assigner to E. J. 'Long year Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application March 30, 1953, Serial No. 345,609

12 Claims. (Cl. Z55-19) This invention relates to portable drill rigs and more particularly to self-contained portable drilling units for use in exploratory or production drilling where the drill hole is made from the surface of the earth and may be in any direction, such as vertical vor at an angle with reference to the vertical. Heretofore for exploratory 2,792,198 lPatented May 14, i357 the wheel supports of frame 10 may, if desired, be redrilling work it has been customary to provide a drilling machine unit as an entity separated from the derrick or tower used for elevating the drill rod, and other equipment in connection with the drilling operation. Frequently, the derricks have been improvised from locally available material and in almost all cases, in' respect to portable drilling, the derricks have been merely assembled with the drilling machine unit and such auxiliaries as are required for the operation. f

It is an object of the present invention to lprovide 'a portable drill rig, especially adapted for exploratory and production drilling oi holes from the surface of thel earth and either vertically or at any desired angle.

It is a further object of the 'invention' to provide an improved self-contained portable drill rig so. equipped that it may be transported readily and rapidly over smooth or rough terrain, and rapidly set up at a: site for the drilling operation.

It is another object of the. invention to providefin: a portable. drill riga self-contained drill and derriclc combination adapted that it may` be used coopera-tively for the drilling of holes vertically or at an angle with reference. tov the vertical.

It is a further object of the invention to: provide portable drill rig wherein the drilling vmachine and: der'- rick form a unitary related and .coordinated mechanism for the production of verticalfor. angularly disposed holes.

Other' and further objects: of the invention-are those inherent inthe apparatus herein: illustrated, described and claimed.

The; invention is illustrated with reference: to the drawingsV in which corresponding numerals refer to the. same parts: and in which;

Figure l isl a side: elevational view of the` apparatus of the invention;

Figure 2'. is: an end elevational view of* the apparatus of the invention;

Figure 3'. isl an enlarged fragmentary view of theA drilling head and a portion of the derrick of the present, invention;

Figure 4 is; an. enlarged fragmentary side elevational View, partly broken away of the drill-ing: head,V af portion of the. derrick pivot plate: and of. the` drive, andi a view ol"v the-hoisting drinn.` Figure #is taken in theY direction of. arrows: 4*-4 of Figure 3-;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal plan view taken in. the direction` of arrows 5.-5t ci Figure 3 showing portionsY of t-hey apparatus broken away;

Figure 6A is a sectionalr View, taken alongthellinefand -in the; direction of arrows 6-6 of Figure 2;;

i Figure 7v 's atsectional View taken` alongathe. liner and Iin thefdirection. oflarrows7-1 of Figuref 2 showingportions of the apparatus broken away; Y l

placed with sled runners or crawler tracks so that it can -be towed over very rough, snow-covered, swampy o'r muddy territory, or may be in the form of a nat-bottomed barge, as shown in Figure 8, for movement over water or swampy areas. Y

' In the illustrated embodiment the frame 10 is provided with rear wheels 11 and front wheels 12, the latter being mounted for turning on the fifth wheel 13, as steered by the tow bar 14. The tow bar 14 is also used for applying a tractive force to the frame 10 for moving it. The frame illustrated is of the step-down construction havingy a step at 16, but need not 'necessarily be so.

Upon` the frame there is mounted a combinedl d'rill and derrick assembly generally designated 20. This assembly comprises a pair of cross frame members 21, see Figures 2, 3 and 4, upon which there is mounted the .machine frame 24. The machine frame 24 carries a `drurn hoist 25 which is operated by power gearing, not illustrated, from the drive shaft 26, thel drive shaft being driven through a clutch and transmission, not shown, from engine 27 which is likewise mounted upon the cross frame channels 21. Any type of motive power unit or engine may be used, but it is preferred, where electric power is unavailable, that the engine 27 be of the internal combustion type, such as a gasoline or diesel powered unit of either liquid or air cooled types.

The machine frame 24 which carries the drum hoist 25, is provided with an end plate 30 that is held in place by a plurality of machine screws 31. The end plate 3i) is provided with a pair of ball bearings 32 which serve accurately to journal the shaft 26, the bearings being held in place by the retaining ring 33. Upon the shaft 26 there is mounted the driving pinion 34' of the drill. head, the drill head being generally designated 40. The end plate 30 is provided at its right face, asV shown in Figure 4, with a complete circle T-slot 35e-36 about the axis of shaft 26 as a center. The T-slot has a narrow portion at 36` through which the shank of bolt 37 passes and a widened internal portion 35. The heads v3S of the bolt residein the interior portion 3S of the T-slot 354-36. TheV end plate 30 has one or more recesses at 41 which reach through to the interior portion 35 and through which the bolt 37 may be inserted from' left to right (as viewed` in Figure 4); rlhe recess 41 is` bigv enough so that thev heads 3S of the bolts will pass through the recess and into the portion 35 of the circular T-slot' and the Shanks 37 of the bolts stick out through the narrow portionA 36 of the slot. ri`hen the: bolts 37 as a whole may be moved arcuately around the circular T-slot 35-36 asdesired. Y

The bolts 3.7 serve to retain in place the derrick pivot plate generally designated 45 which serves' as a pivotal mounting` upon which the lower end portion: i6l of the derrick mast is attached by means of the bolts 47'. The derrich pivot plate 45 is provided with several large apertures at 18-18 so as to reducev its weight. The' outer shapelof the derrick pivot plate 45 is as follows: Beginning .at the point 48 the shapev continuesalong a straight line 'to-point. r49v and thence around the-circlllar curve 49-.1-50.-51.which has the axis of shaft 26 as its center. Thecasting 45 then extends outwardly 'at1511to the right,

, the operator.

3. as shown in Figure 3, along the line 51-52 and is pro-V vided at its outer end with pivot trunnion portions 53 and 54 which are aligned, so as to provide a mounting for the pivot pin 55, upon whichthe drill head 40 is swung, as will be described in greater detail.' It may be noted that the drill head 40 is mounted sothat it may be swung to an out of the way position from a position over the drill hole for pulling rods etc., as is common in exploratory drill construction. The shape of derrick pivot plate 45 then extends along a line 56-57 and thence along the line 57-58, being closed at the top along the line 58-48. The derrick pivot plate 45 is provided with a circular groove 60 at its back side which matches a corresponding circular land 61 on the plate 30, the land 61 being concentric with the axis of shaft 26. In addition, the derrick pivot plate 45 is provided with a plurality of holes through which the attaching bolts 37 are adapted to pass, the bolts being provided with nuts at 39. It will accordingly be observed that the entire derrick pivot plate 45 will pivot on the-land 61 since the land' 61 is made coaxial with theV axis of shaft 26 and the drive pinion 34 thereon. The derrick pivot plate y45 is held in place on the land 61 by means of the bolts 37 which slide in the arcuate groove 36 of the T-slots, the heads of the bolts sliding around through thearcuate recess 35 in the T-slot. The derrick pivot plate 45 may be locked in any position simply by pulling down the nuts 39 upon the bolts 37.

Referring to Figures 3 and 5 especially, it will be observed that the pivot pin 55 which is supported by the pivot bosses 53-54 on the derrick pivot plate 45, serves as a mounting for the drill head generally designated 40.

wherein the drillstem or quill'62 is rotated by a gear 63 that is keyed or splined to the quill 62, the gear being suitably supported by bearings not shown in the drill head 40, and rotated due to the fact that in its operating position gear 63 is in mesh with the drive pinion 34. The advancing of the drill quill or stem 62 in the drilling direction, and its withdrawal are accomplished by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 64-64 that are part of the housing -of the drill' head 40. The hydraulic cylinders 64-64 are served by ports and hose connections not illustrated and serve to move the hydraulically operated plungers ,65-65 inwardly or outwardly under control of hydraulic control valves, not illustrated, that are manipulated by The two plungers 65-65 are connected `In this particular instance the drill head is of the type .by a yoke 66 which is provided with-thrust bearingvv 468 in which the rotary drive quill 62 is journalled. Accordingly, by operation of the hydraulic cylinders 64--64 the rotary drill quill 62 may be moved either in the drilling direction or oppositely, that is to say in the direction of the double arrow 69,- Figures 3 and 4, while at the same time the quill is rotated by the gears 34-63 in the direction of the arrow 70 (for a right-hand rotation drill) or reversely for a left-hand rotation drill.

The body of the drill head is provided with a tapered conical surface at 71 which mates with a correspending tapered conical surface 72 that is provided on the derrick pivot plate 45. The surface 72 on the derrick pivot plate is likewise concentric with the axis of the shaft 26 and of gear 34 and is so located with reference to the surface 71 of the drill head 40 so that when the surfaces 71 and 72 are brought snugly into engagement, the gears 34 and 63 will be accurately in mesh. l y

The drill head 40 pivots on the pin 55, swinging from the'full line position shown in Figure 5 to the dotted line positron and vice versa, and the drill head may be held inthe full line position by means of a clamping bolt 74. The clamping bolt is pivoted at 75 upon a pair of ears 76 mounted upon the derrick pivot plate 45. The drill head 40 is in turn provided with a projection 77 which in place, thus closing the tapered surfaces 71-72 upon each other. This, incidentally, closes the drill head so that lubrication of the gears 34-63 will not be seriously disturbed by exposure to grit and grime.

By referring to Figure 2 is will be observed that there is provided a perch or pivot bracket 80 on one side of the mobile frame that provides a mounting for the pivot pin 81. The pivot pin 81 is positioned so as to be in coaxial alignment with the axis of the shaft 26, about which the derrick pivot plate 45 is adapted to rotate. The derrick generally designated 82 is provided with a leg 84 which is normal to the axis of shaft 26 and an annular brace leg 85. The two legs are firmly attached together by al plurality of 4horizontal and angular braces 87.

kAt the top of thg`derrick there is provided a mounting plate 88 for the sheave pin 89 upon which the sheave wheel 90 rotates. The sheave wheel is of a size and is positioned so as to reach from a position generally over the drum of hoist 25 and deliver cable tangentially to the line of drilling 11S-115, which is a line through the laxis of the drill quill 62. The axis of pivot pin 55, upon which the drill head 40 swings, is parallel to the axis of quill 62 (which is line 11S-115), but is spaced from it. Line 115-115 is parallel to the derrick leg 84 but isvspaced outwardly a short distance therefrom. The drill head 40, when swung about pivot pin 55, will swing clear of the line of drilling 115-115 (which is the axis of the drill hole).

The following geometrical features are apparent: The axis of shaft 26 (and the swinging axis of derrick 82) is transverse to the mobile frame 10 and near one end of frame 10. Leg 84 of derrick 82'swings in a plane that is substantially normal to the axis of shaft 26. Drill head 40 is swung on the derrick 82 (derrick pivot plate 45) so as to drill along line 11S-115, which is outside the dimensions of frame 10 and parallel to leg 84 vof the derrick 82. The swinging pivot of drill head 40 is parallel to the drilling line 115-115.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, on the vertical leg 84 of the derrick 82 there is provided a semi-circular trough 91 held in place by a plurality of brackets 92. The trough 91 is a half round and it is positioned so that its center 93 is coaxial with the drilling line 11S-115 and hence coaxial with the drill quill 62 of the drill head 40. The quill 62 is hollow and during use drill pipe R, which is known in the trade as drill rod, is passed through the hollow quill `62 and held by the chuck 67 on the quill 62, but some of the drill rod may extend above the upper end 62A of the quill. At the upper end of the drill rod lthere is attached -a water swivel 94 (dotted) which in turn' is coupled to a water hose (and through the hose l, to the water or mud pumping unit of the drill rig). The

half'round trough` 91 is made of a diameter so as to receive the water swivel 94 that screws onto drill pipe R, the water swivel having a side projection at 94A to which its hose from the water or mud pumping unit is attached. In use swivel 94 is suspended from the end of a cable from drum hoist 25 passing over sheave wheel 90. Thus, as shown in Figure 2, the drill rod at R is supported at its upper end by the water swivel 94-94A, which slides along trough 91, the swivel being prevented from rotating by the coupling 94A sliding along the edge of the trough is bifurcated, as shown in .Figure 3, so that the shank of the bolt 74 may be swung into place, whereupon the nut 78 may be pulled down to hold the drill head 40 mly 91. Thus, regardlessof whether the derrick is in a vertical or horizontal position, the trough 91 serves to support the water swivel against any wobbling or chattering action and holds the drill rod R axially along the drilling direction 11S-115.

At several points along the vertical height of the derrick leg 84 there are :also provided mountings 95 into which the shank of brackets 96 may be inserted. These brackets 96 are provided with a pair of arms 97-97 and the bracket 96 may be held in placeby plates 96A which are bolted at 99 to the mounting plates 92 holding trough 91. The brackets 96-97 serve as support'for additional sections of drill rod so that the driller may have'them handy for use either during drilling or as a storage rack for rodrduring withdrawing of the rod from the hole.

As shown in Figure 1 the derrick has a suitable transverse dimension as at T and is adequately braced by the cross bracing 100. The derrick is moved from a horizontal to a vertical position by a hydraulic cylinder unit generally designated 101 which is pivoted to the mobile frame vat 102 and is likewise piv-oted t-o a pivot pin 104 on the derrick 82. The hydraulic unit 101 collapses to the length shown in the solid lines in Figure l and is preferably of the telescoping type so as to have an extreme telescopic length, as shown in dotted lines.l Actual stability during a drilling operation. is provided by a co1- lapsiblc brace at: 105 composed of an outer tube 106 in which an inner tube 107 is adapted neatly to slide. The outer tube and inner tube are provided with holes 108 at intervals through which pins may be inserted so as to adjust the length of the overall brace 1,05A At the lower end the brace 1,05 is attached to a pin 1,10, in the bracket 11,1011 the mobile frame, and on itsy upper end the brace 105 is attached to the pin 112 in the bracket 113 on the derrick 82. Several of the bracing units 105 ofr varying length are provided in the rig and the one having an appropriate length is used for verticalV position and shorter ones are used for bracing at intermediate angular positions. Several intermediate angular positions are shown for the brace 105 in Figure 1, thus illustrating the various angular positions in which the derrick 82 may he supported and the drilling done. It will be observed that as the derrick 82 is moved from the vertical through various angular positions to the prone position, shown in Figure l, that the drill head 40 is likewise moved in its mounting on the derrick pivot plate 45 so that the drill is always pointed in the direction -of the drilling line, namely line 11S-11S of Figures 2 and 3. Accordingly, by hoisting the derrick to the desired position the drill head 40 is likewise pointed in the desired position for drilling along the drilling axis 11S-115. In the prone position shown in full lines in Figure l, the derrick is supported on a bent 103 which is solidly mounted on frame 10.

While the drill head 40 has been illustrated :as having a hydraulic feed for the drill quill 62, it will be appreciated that lother drilling heads 40 of standard design maybe substituted, utilizing screw feed or pneumatic feed.

Upon the mobile frame there are also mounted the auxiliaries which in the illustrated embodiment include a hydraulic pumping unit generally designated 120 which `supplies the hydraulic fluid pressure for operating the cylinders 64-64 of the drill head 40 and for operating hoist cylinder 101. All hydraulic units are connected to hydraulic pump 120 through pressure hoses and control valves, not illustrated. The hydraulic assembly permits the driller to elevate the derrick hydraulically, while his helper will set brace 10S. The drillcr likewise utilizes hydraulic pressure from pump 120 for operating cylinder 614-64. There is also provided the mud and water pump unit gener-ally designated 121 with its power supply 122 and drive 12.3, which serves as a supply of uid pressure for either water or drilling mud that is introduced through the water swivel and into the drill pipe and delivered to the bit carried Iby the drill pipe. Upon the mobile frame there is also provided `an -auxiliary electric power supply unit 130 for incidental power supply around the drilling operation.

In Figure 8 there is illustrated a scow which may be made water-tight and of sufficient buoyancy so as to support the drill rig on Water or on boggy land. If desired, the scow may be provided with a strong bottom surface or runners so that the scow may be towed over a snowcovered or icy -surface or over irregular land surfaces not suitable for use of a wheel-supported mobile frame. The drill, derrick and auxiliaries relative Figures 1-7 are mounted on the scow as previously described herein.

As -rnany apparently widely dilerent embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments herein.

What I claim is:

l. A longitudinal mobile frame, a pivotal mounting on the frame adjacent one side thereof, said pivotal mounting having a pivoting axis transverse to the frame, a derrick boom having a sheave at its upper end and having its lower end attached to said mounting for pivotal movement about said pivoting axis, power means attached to the mobile frame and to said derrick boom for moving it pivotally between a lower limit position in which it extends generally along the frame to a fully raised upper limit position in which it is perpendicular to said frame, brace means for holding the derrick boom in selected positions ranging from saidlower limit to said upper limit positions, a drive shaft journalled in said pivotal mounting coaxial with said pivoting axis, a drill head having a drill quill mounted in said drill head for rotationV about a drilling axis parallel to and adjacent the boom and for movement along said drilling axis, a drive gear connected to said quill for rotating it, a hinge coupling; connecting the drill head to the boom for swinging n'iovement ofthe drill head from a drilling position wherein said quill is aligned with the drilling axis to a non-drilling position in which the axis of the quill is Parallel to but spaced from said drilling axis, a drive pinion on the shaft and positioned so as to be in mesh with said drive gear when the drill head is in the drilling position.

2. The apparatus of claim l further characterized in that the mobile frame is wheel supported.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the mobile frame is a scow.

4. The apparatus of claim l further characterized in that said power means comprises a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit and a hydraulic pressure supply and controls therefor is provided on the frame and connected to the hydraulic piston and cylinder unit for operating it so as to raise and lower the derrick boom.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that a trough is provided on the derrick boom adjacent paralleling the drilling axis along said derrick boom for guiding a water swivel on a drill rod during drilling operation.

6. The apparatus of claim l further characterized in that rack means is provided along the derrick boom for supporting extra drill rod in a position generally parallel to and adjacent the drilling axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that said rack means are made so as to be removable from the boom.

8. The apparatus of claim l further characterized in that additional pivotal mounting means is provided on the mobile frame in spaced relation to but axially aligned with said pivotal mounting and a brace is pivotally connested to said additional pivotal mounting and attached to said derrick boom for bracing said derrick boom and holding it from displacement from a plane of pivotal movement at right angles to the axis through said pivotal mountings.

9, The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that a motive power source is mounted between the pivotal mounting and said additional pivotal mounting means, said power source being connected to said drive shaft for rotating it.

l0. A drill rig comprising a mobile frame having sides and ends, a pair of pivot brackets positioned one adjacent each side of the frame and so that the pivots thereof are aligned in a direction transverse of the frame near one end thereof, a derrick boom having a working leg and a brace leg, one end of the working leg being pivoted on one bracket and one end of the brace leg being pivoted on the other bracket, the legs being joined together at their ends opposite their pivoted ends, said hoorn including a drillhead mount on the working leg of the boom adjacent the bracket pivot of Ysaid leg, a drill head fixed to said drill head mount, said drill head having a drilling axis parallel to the working-leg of the boom so as to be swung pivotally as the working leg of the boom is swung in a plane substantially at right angles yto the axis of said pivot as the boom pivots, means on the mobile frame for receiving and holding the boom in a swung down position in which the boom is generally lengthwise of the mobile frame, power hoist means connecting the mobile frame and the boom for swinging it upwardly through a series of operating positions to a limiting substantially vertical operating position, adjustable brace means connecting the mobile frame and the boom for holding it xedly in selected angular working positions ranging from said prone position to and including said vertical position, a sheave mounted on the free end of the boom, said sheave having a diameter such that it extends from a line substantially coincident with said drilling axis to a line generally parallel thereto and between said pivot brackets, a hoist rotor mounted on said mobile frame and between said pivot brackets for receiving a line running over said sheave, said drill head having a rotatable quill provided with a chuck, said drill head being mounted on the drill head mount of the working leg of the boom so that the quill axis coincides with said drilling axis, a power shaft between said pivot brackets and journalled on an axis coinciding with the axis of the pivots thereof, said shaft extending through the pivot 8 on which the working leg of the boom is mounted, said shaft extendinginto proximity with the quill of said drill head and a drive pinion on said shaft meshed with a drive gear on the quill of said drill head.

1l. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in 'that av support trough is mounted on the working leg of the boom, said trough having an axis substantially aligned with said drilling axis.

' 12. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that the drill head mount is provided with pivot hinge mounting the axis of which is parallel to and displaced from said drilling axis, said drill head being mounted on said pivot hinge for swinging movement from a drilling position in which the quill axis is aligned with the drilling axis and said pinion and gear are in mesh to an open position in which the drill head is clear of the drilling axis and said pinion and gear are out of mesh.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

